Focus confirmation on the 3G and Composer

An old trick I learned years ago when using manual focus lenses, especially in low light, to make sure it is in focus is as follows:

Do your composition first.
Take a cheapo laser pointer and place it against the back of the viewfinder and turn it on.
It will produce a red dot where ever it is pointed.
If the dot is small and well defined, the subject is in focus.
If not adjust your focus until it is small and crisp.

I played with this even doing some bending on the 3G and the Composer and it works great.
The Composer is the easiest to use this technique because of the barrel focusing. But it is very easy to do with the 3G too. Let me know if this makes sense to everyone, if not I will take a photo of what I mean. Good luck and happy bending.
David

Saw something similar to this on a Graflex 4x5. It projected two lines and when focused they became 1. They were using the rangefinder to do it. Really cool. Saw a photographer use a light at the viewfinder eyepiece to focus on a copy stand. Woked well.
Some cameras will give focus confirmation in MF, using their AF sensor. My Pentax do this. It is useful at times. Other cameras may do it too. Will try the laser pointer trick.
thanks
barondla

I would love it if you could take a picture showing what you are trying to describe. I am new to the Composer and new to the world of photography. I don't think I am clear on what the "sweet spot" is and when I refocus after bending the Composer should the area I am focusing on come in just as sharp? I'm still trying to figure this whole thing out. Good thing for me is I am having fun with this. Thanks.

Melissa: The sweetspot in "Bending lingo" is the area of sharpness surrounded by the area of aberration or blur, so when you Bend you place the area of interest in the sweetspot, compose, crop ..... in camera and click to get your Bendy ..... and of course you still need to have fun with the process :)

Thanks, this is really helpful! I will get out and try it again today. I was able to focus in when the composer was in nadir but when I bent it I struggled getting my sweetspot back in focus. I am wondering if my diopter is out of focus.
This gives me a better visual so thank you!
Melissa

You want to use the viewfinder. You put the laser to the viewfinder like it is your eye. Turn it on, then focus until the beam that is projected is crisp and sharp. The beam will go down the prism, over the mirror and through the lens to the subject. I hope this helps.
David